Demolition firm fined for health and safety issues
An employee suffered serious injuries on a construction site for a demolition firm. The employee was burned because a gas pipe ignited at the level of his face. The worker was 37 at the time of the incident. His face and forearms were burned at a warehouse in Burton-on-Trent. He cut into a metal pipe that should have been shut off and devoid of any gas fumes, but instead the tool being used ignited the gas. The HSE was called in and during the health and safety audits, it was found the employer did not take necessary precautions. The employer should have checked that the pipe was safe, but even basic checks were not conducted.
The court listened to the testimony that the angle grinder being used in the mezzanine was used to cut a metal pipe. Not knowing that it was live, it caused the health and safety at work incident. Injuries in the construction sector and particularly in demolition are common. The worker is lucky that he is alive. He will have the burn scars for life due to the incident. The company has been fined £10,000 and must pay £4,200 in additional costs. Proper training, safety equipment, and basic checks could have prevented the incident. Had the worker been wearing protective gear on his face and forearms while using the angle grinder he may not have suffered such serious burns. The company also could have checked the line.
